RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700

There’s no point in getting a RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 if you’re not on an unlimited data plan. Sure, the phone looks like a hottie with its business attire-sexy and mysterious corporate appeal, but what makes it hotter is its fruity brain.

BlackBerry Bold(er)

Compared to the BlackBerry Bold 9000, the 9700 is sleeker and lighter on the pocket – literally and figuratively. Its reduction in size, however, hasn’t compromised the spacing of the keypad and its centerpiece, the optical trackpad, which works like your typical optical mouse, only inverted. It allows for ease of navigation, especially since this smartphone doesn’t feature touch screen.

The phone’s RIM OS 5.0 allows for threaded text messaging, which saves SMS exchanges much like a chat log. Another notable feature is its quick 624MHz processor, which makes the phone more responsive. Applications load without a cinch, processes don’t lag, and the phone never hanged while we were testing it.

Getting the best of the Web

The Bold 9700 strives to be your PC away from your PC. It even allows you to sync your Gmail contacts to the phone. There’s also a plethora of both free and paid BlackBerry applications you can install to make commonly used tools and accessed websites just one click away, like a Facebook and Twitter shortcut. No need to launch the browser just to keep everyone updated on your exploits and whereabouts.

One niggle about the phone’s email function, though, is how some HTML-heavy messages don’t load properly. It’s also too bad that its built-in browser doesn’t support Flash. On the flip side, it supports Java so, have a cuppa!

More to offer

The Bold 9700 has other things to offer, like its 3.2-megapixel camera that yields decent photos, especially with its built-in flash. It also supports audio and video playback, making it a legit multimedia unit. And despite its hardworking processor, battery life is great, meaning there are days that you can actually do without charging the phone.

All in all, the 9700 is a competent mobile phone on its own. But to fully reap the fruits of this BlackBerry, it’s best to maximize its mobile Internet and email functions, which above all, make it a cut above the rest.